US4559692A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for the manufacture of a ball joint
Assignee: DBA SA
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Filing: 1983-12-15
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Granted: 1985-12-24
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Expires: 2003-12-15
Abstract
Abstract Method of crimping the locking ring of a ball joint. According to the invention, a prestress is applied to the bearing bush (17) to obtain a certain frictional torque between the latter and the spherical pivot while the locking ring (18) is placed on the bush (17); the punching tools (28) comprising a double die (30) are then actuated simultaneously in the direction of the socket (15) so as to deform the latter along two approximately circumferential and parallel zones located on both sides of the ring (18) to surround it without displacing it.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerard Morin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:17
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/06; F16C11/0685; F16C11/069; B; B23; B23P; B23P11/00; B23P15/00; B23P15/003; F16C11/0619; F16C11/0623; F16C11/0628; B23P2700/00; B23P2700/11; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49636; Y10T29/49643; Y10T29/49647; Y10T29/49648; Y10T29/4965; Y10T29/49652; Y10T29/49654; Y10T29/49657; Y10T29/49663; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/4984; Y10T29/49845; Y10T29/49853; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49915; Y10T29/49917; Y10T29/49918; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53104; Y10T29/53109; Y10T29/53709; Y10T29/53717; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32631; Y10T403/32721; Y10T403/32737; Y10T403/32778; Y10T403/32819; Y10T403/32836
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of manufacturing a ball joint having a metal socket and comprising a tubular end wall portion having a longitudinal axis, a spherical pivot accommodated within said socket, a resilient grip bearing bush interposed between said socket and pivot and having an annular end portion, and a locking ring having a peripheral outer radial edge with converging outer surfaces and fixed in said socket in contact engagement with said annular end portion of said bush to retain the bush in the socket with a preload force, the method comprising the steps of: exerting on said bush a predetermined preload force directed parallel to said axis, and exerting, on at least one crimping location of said end wall portion, two radially inwardly directed deformation forces onto two associated axially spaced-apart portions of said end wall portion so that said outer radial edge is surrounded by radially inwardly deformed material of said end wall portion and the deformed material engaging the converging outer surfaces.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of manufacturing a ball joint having a metal socket and comprising a tubular end wall portion having a longitudinal axis, a spherical pivot accommodated within said socket, a resilient grip bearing bush interposed between said socket and pivot and having an annular end portion, and a locking ring having a peripheral outer radial edge with converging outer surfaces and fixed in said socket in contact engagement with said annular end portion of said bush to retain the bush in the socket with a preload force, the method comprising the steps of: exerting on said bush a predetermined preload force directed parallel to said axis, and exerting, on at least one crimping location of said end wall portion, two radially inwardly directed deformation forces onto two associated axially spaced-apart portions of said end wall portion so that said outer radial edge is surrounded by radially inwardly deformed material of said end wall portion and the deformed material engaging the converging outer surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of providing said annular end portion of said bearing bush and said locking ring with complementary frusto-conical surfaces, and providing said locking ring with the outer surfaces converging radially outwardly toward a plane perpendicular to said axis, said two associated axially spaced-apart portions located axially on both sides of said plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said deformation forces are exerted by a radially displaceable tool having two axially offset and radially protruding die portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said die portions of said radially displaceable tool are radially offset one relative to the other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
A machine for carrying out the method of claim 1, which comprises: a support for supporting said metal socket, a tubular stop positioned along side said longitudinal axis and adapted for bearing engagement with said locking ring positioned on said annular end portion of said bearing bush accommodated in said socket, said support and said stop displaceable one relative to the other in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, and at least one tool adjacent said stop and displaceable perpendicularly relative to said axis and having two axially offset and radially protruding die portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 5 wherein said die portions of said tool are radially offset one relative to the other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
The machine of claim 5 wherein said stop is stationary.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of manufacturing a ball joint having a metal socket and comprising a tubular end wall portion having a longitudinal axis, a spherical pivot accommodated within said socket, a resilient grip bearing bush interposed between said socket and pivot and having a frusto-conical end bearing surface, and a locking ring having a pair of frusto-conical outer surfaces converging outwardly toward a plane transverse to said axis and a frusto-conical end bearing surface in contact engagement with the frusto-conical end bearing surface of the bush to retain the bush in the socket with a preload force, the method comprising the steps of: exerting on said bush a predetermined preload force directed parallel to said axis; and exerting, on at least one crimping location of said end wall portion, two radially inwardly directed deformation forces onto two associated axially spaced-apart portions of said end wall portion so that said axially spaced-apart portions are deformed radially inwardly to surround at least a radially outermost portion of said ring.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of manufacturing a ball joint having a metal socket and comprising a tubular end wall portion having a longitudinal axis, a spherical pivot accommodated within said socket, a resilient grip bearing bush interposed between said socket and pivot and having a frusto-conical end bearing surface, and a locking ring having a pair of frusto-conical outer surfaces converging outwardly toward a plane transverse to said axis and a frusto-conical end bearing surface in contact engagement with the frusto-conical end bearing surface of the bush to retain the bush in the socket with a preload force, the method comprising the steps of: exerting on said bush a predetermined preload force directed parallel to said axis; and exerting, on at least one crimping location of said end wall portion, two radially inwardly directed deformation forces onto two associated axially spaced-apart portions of said end wall portion so that said axially spaced-apart portions are deformed radially inwardly to surround at least a radially outermost portion of said ring.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-23 | 1989-06-24 | 1989-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-23 | 1993-06-24 | 1993-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-23 | 1997-06-24 | 1997-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |